Broadway United Reformed Church in Worcestershire engaged more with its local rural community by creating gentle exercise sessions.

1. Look After Yourself
feel better and enjoy life more
Broadway

2. It Just Works - above the surface

3. Look After Yourself
feel better and enjoy life more
gentle exercises and tips
on how to improve your :
Mobility Balance Diet
all in a friendly, relaxed environment, includes refreshments
Every Thursday 10.30 am —12 noon
in URC Hall, 77 High Street , Broadway WR12 7AL
No charge.
Come whenever you can
Transport can be provided
Find out more from Mark on 07949 296 738
or just drop in on the day

4. Welcome to Look After Yourself
• Every Thursday
• Doors open at 10.00 am for coffee and chat
• We’ll start the exercises at 10.30 am
• Around 15 people come every week
• The church launched these sessions to help our
neighbours – it’s the Christian way
• Our partner is Rooftop Housing Group
• Who put us in touch with our qualified tutors
• Get a feel for it
• Only do what you are comfortable with
Broadway

5. Welcome to Look After Yourself
• Most important thing is to get out of the house
• Next is to enjoy yourself
• Have a chat over coffee and biscuits
• Runs every week
• Come when you can, do what you feel like
• Exercise to music one week (Extend)
• Balance the next (Tai Chi)
• You can come to both, or one or the other as you prefer
• Exercises end and we have coffee at 11.30 am
• Go home at around 12 noon
• We can arrange to pick you up and drop you of if you like
Broadway

10. Occasional special topic talks and lunches
afterwards
Menu for
Eye Health
Vegetable
soup
Cheese scones
Carrot cake
All have
ingredients
good for our
eyes

11. What people say
You’re not made to feel awkward or uncomfortable
There’s no pressure
We have a laugh
It doesn’t matter
if you miss a week
There is a friendly atmosphere
It gets you out of the house
My doctor says my flexibility is better,
it’s down to Look After Yourself
I like the tea and chat too
I like the variety of activity each week
The tutors are brilliant
I’ve invited my friends to come along
Broadway
I’ve met new people
You just do what you feel like
I come along even if I can’t do all the exercises
You can have a lift
I prefer the seated exercises
We like the Tai Chi

12. Let us know if you are interested
in other activities Broadway
Job Club
Helping you to
find
volunteer
or paid work
Threads
Crafts and
Discussion
Table Games Afternoon
Play what you want. Scrabble, cards,
dominoes and more
Neighbours on Line
Find out what the internet and computers
are about. Bring your own or use ours.

13. It Just Works – this is how and why

14. Prayer and Faith Based
• To know Jesus better and make Him better known
Broadway URC Mission, Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 28:19-20
• Both develop own faith and reach people in our
community Mission Shaped Ministry and Broadway URC Outreach
• Get to know people in our community Broadway URC Outreach
• Love one another, help your neighbour Mt 22:37-40, Lk 10:27-37
• Evidently Christ centred Acts 4:7
• Show love in words, action, truth 1 John 3:18
• Faith combined with action James 2:14-17
• Build partnerships to respond to need Broadway URC Outreach
Broadway

15. Look After Yourself
addresses these local needs
•Wellbeing
•Loneliness (out of the house , meeting people)
•Health (Exercise, diet, lifestyle)
•Skills (Computers, internet, jobs)
•Debt (Value for money, donations and
grants, money management, jobs)
•Access (Transport)
•Trust
Broadway

16. Look After Yourself
•Thoroughly researched local needs
•Talked to local people & organisations
•Loneliness and isolation reducing well being
•Living away from family
•Less mobile
•Losing independence
•Impact of falls
•Government budget cuts demand more cost
efficient services
•Area of deprivation
(Sources - Census : ONS , Loneliness Survey : Age UK, Future Fit :WCC , Sustainable Community : WDC, asking people in the village)
Broadway

17. Design Principles
• Builds the presence of the church in the community
• Explain up front that it is church led and sponsored
why? - to help our neighbours, it’s the Christian way
• Get to know our neighbours
• Be good news
• Balance, Mobility, Strength, Diet
• Built partnerships to be safe with qualified tutors
• Friendly, relaxed, fun, atmosphere
• Respond to the needs and interest of each person
• Come when you can
• With different people all in the same boat
• Value for money – donate if you can
• Soft launch and adjust
• For Neighbours, By Neighbours
Broadway

18. On reflection
•Go out there and listen
•Rigorous identification of needs
•Signpost to existing solutions if they exist
•Identify skilled potential partners and their aims
•Identify our value add
(friendly, alliance building, project management, network, catalyst, agile,
trusted)
•Make early, up front contribution to show intent
•Co-design and co-delivery of solutions
Broadway

19. On reflection
•Listen
•Respond to need, soft launches, tune
•Be there, consistently
• Word of mouth and tutors are the lifeblood
•It is about being sociable and friendly
•Confess your limitations
•All initiatives have a lifecycle including death
•Keep it relevant
Broadway

20. Want to know more?
Contact :
Mark Pickering
07949 296 738
markp.broadwayurc@outlook.com
Broadway